My Body. Our Life.

Though it's been a year since our last infertility treatment, this past week I've been bombarded with infertility realities or possibilities. A dear friend who thinks she might have PCOS. A reality TV show that talked about their struggle/decision to do IVF. Another dear friend who just finished all the initial infertility tests I did a couple years ago. A couple friend whose IVF cycle just failed. It's all around me. Reminding me of our journey - decisions, pain, confusion. Reminding me of God's closeness and tenderness during those testing and treatment days.

One of the more difficult parts of the process was the dual reality that while it was my body handling the medical treatment, it was our life that was affected. My body was going through the medications, injections, ultrasounds, blood tests and doctor probings. But it was our life together that we were making these decisions for.

If there was one thing I could suggest for other couples struggling with conceiving/infertility, it would be this: make ALL your decisions together. Don't make a decision until you can be truly together on it. While it is the woman's body going through the drama/trauma of infertility, it truly must be a partnership - down to the very last doctor appointment, drug, or injection. The physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual demands of infertility demand partnership to get through it together.

Partnership is one of the greatest gifts my infertility gave me. Partnership with my God. Partnership with my man.

This picture was taken days before our last treatment failed...doing it together made going through it possible.